The Wilkes Team

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so are good news (and friends) from a far country (Proverbs 25:25)! The Lord in His Sovereign and Providential plan disperses His people across the world to spread the Light of Christ, live faithfully, and be a resource of hope to the hopeless. He then orchestrates events to allow fellowship with one another for inspiration and accountability. Do you ever feel though that the time and distance between such fellowship with like-minded believers is too long?

Over the past 20 hours our spirits were rejuvenated with a last minute visit by the Staddons from West Virginia. They were on a return trip from Pennsylvania and took a little detour to stop by our house. We’re glad when friends and family make these kinds of detours. Almost the the moment their van hit the driveway, fellowship began. There was much to cram into the 20 hours we had with them. This included testimonies, conversations on the Providence of God throughout history, singing, bowls of ice cream from the in-house ‘Baskin Robbins’  , an inspiring Wisdom Search, 9 hole golf (a hilarious card game), volley ball, and both smiles & joyful acclamations in abundance. It is pleasant when the brethren dwell together in unity.

We appreciate their focus on discipling others, especially those who are younger. As I look back on my life, there are several promiment memories I have of when older children took time to be with me. These will forever stand out in my mind and are constant reminders of the need to reach out. May each one of us look for those around us who we can spend a moment with and impact. When done unto the glory of God and edification of the saints, the rate of return on such investments will exceed our expectations.

Thank you Staddons for a very rewarding 20 hours!

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver!” Proverbs 25:11

6 Comments » | posted in Family News

Let me explain! Whether within your own home, down town, or across the U.S. border, you are on a mission field. In many ways, life as a Christian can be compared to living within a glass house. What you say, participate in, and allow reveals both who you follow and who is most important in your life. For the Christian, this means associating with Jesus Christ vs. the world. All too often we sacrifice Jesus to please and not offend the world (claim fame).

Recently, I had the privilege of working with the Alert Cadets of Northern Virginia as they assisted staff and exhibitors at the NOVA Homeschool Convention. Alert leader Lt. Voell has a heart for serving others. It is a joy to work along side him and his family. A frequently asked question as we were moving boxes, running errands, setting up, and then breaking down was, “Who are you with?” I would reply that we were with an organization resembling boy scouts, called Alert. I would also mention that a goal of the program was to strengthen father and son relationships. The inquirer would then express approval and my fame would grow. I had failed! Oh, I described it correctly, but something lacked. The real power behind this program is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Realizing my error, the next time someone inquired of our program, I purposed to briefly explain the program and point out that it was also a tool to strengthen one’s relationship with Jesus Christ.

A few days later while writing a note of gratefulness to a former unsaved piano teacher, I was prompted to ask the Lord to bless her. At first I figured that, ‘may the Lord bless you,’ would be sufficient. However, building on His work in me a few days prior, He had me write, “may the Lord Jesus bless you.” Power comes from claiming the Name of Jesus.

4 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

One day I was playing with our little math blocks. I made some interesting things. You will see it in the pictures that Jennifer, Daniel and I took with the camera. It was hard making the towers real tall. Sometimes a block would fall down inside the tower. When I tried to pick it up, the tower would fall .

A good foundation was very important so the towers wouldn’t fall down so easily. I’m glad that Jesus is my foundation. He became my foundation when I was saved.

4 Comments » | posted in Tid Bits

Our family was able to go and pick blueberries at a farm called Muskrat Haven. Mommy gave us some wise instructions before picking. We were told to only pick the big blue ones and make sure they weren’t hard. It was amazing to find out that there were big ones in very peculiar places. First we found out that the big ones were under the leaves where the birds don’t look. Second we found that the big ones were closer to the back of the orchard. I was grateful for Mommy’s wise instructions, because the big ripe ones always taste better .

Just a few days ago we went to the Hynes house and picked thornless blackberries. The Hynes family has worked together to create an amazing garden in their own backyard. Earlier this year they sold blackberry plants to the public. Last weekend they let us be their first pick-your-own customers.  It is really neat to see a family working together to begin a home business. Picking thornless blackberries was a lot like picking blueberries & wild blackberries except these were much bigger. In about 25 minutes we picked almost 10 pounds! We look forward to making blackberry cobbler and jelly. If you are in the area, stop by and try some.

7 Comments » | posted in Farming 101, Outdoor Adventures

Success is the result of time that others have taken to invest into our lives. 

Being in a large family gives you many opportunities to receive as well as give encouragement, words of wisdom, praise, correction, and vision for the future. Praise the Lord that He does not leave us where we are, but is constantly giving us opportunities to strengthen our character and to build our walks with Him.

Hannah over the last year has let the Lord strengthen her in a couple key ways, including patience, obedience, and thoroughness in her practice on the harp. Just about every morning Hannah runs up with Sarah right after breakfast and has an hour lesson with Sarah. Watching them work together has been very encouraging. The attention to detail on Sarah’s part to make sure she teaches Hannah the hand positions just right and keeping record of what she is teaching Hannah on a daily bases is just incredible!  

We all had the joy of reaping what has been sown over the last year at Hannah’s very first harp recital!!! What a blessing it was. Hannah was so excited to play and Sarah was just thrilled to see her first harp student perform! There was no way Hannah would have been able to play with such confidence if she had decided to ignore Sarah’s counsel and direction. Neither would Sarah have been able to give words of wisdom and instruction to Hannah if she had decided to not pay attention to the littlest details from her teacher.

It is worth it to listen, to heed, and to harken to the words of our authorities. Someday you will be placed in a position of authority and you will only be able to effectively encourage those under you to follow you if you have learned to be a man or woman under authority yourself!

8 Comments » | posted in Family News

“Show me a way to get more things done with my time, and I will pay you anything within reason.” To some degree or the other each one of us have had a thought along those lines. From the ditch digger to CEOs of companys across our nation, there seems to be a tendency towards insufficient use of time and accomplishment of responsibilities.

Company president Charles Schwab was willing to pay $250,000 for such advice. In an interview with pioneer management consultant, Ivy Lee, Charles Schwab successfully turned a new page in personal productivity. And so now, the promised advice worth 1/4 of a million dollars:

Lee handed him (Schwab) a blank sheet of paper and told him to take a few minutes that evening to write down in order of priority the six most important tasks he had to do. The next day he was to work on item number one until he had finished it, then pass on to item two, and so on down the list. At the end of the day he should tear up the list and make a new one for the following day.

“Don’t be concerned,” Lee advised, “if you finish only one or two tasks. Your main objective is not necessarily to do them all, but to spend your time on those that are the most important. In other words, do the first things first. If you can’t finish all the tasks on the list by this method, you couldn’t by any other method, either. And without some system, you’d probably not even have decided which were the most important. When you have tried this method send me a check for what you think it’s worth.” 

Schwab’s life was about to change for the better and cause a wise company president to give away $25,000 (worth $250,000 today) of his money. This advice can be taken to one more level. As we filter through countless opportunities, cries for help, and responsibilities, how will we ever be able to list them all and reach completion or atleast satisfaction of achievement?

3 Questions (and no, I was not the originator ):

1. Have I completed the opportunities and responsibilities directed by authorities & the Lord?

2. How will this benefit me in 10 years?

3. How will involvement in this activity benefit me eternally?

With this filter in place, we can integrate Mr. Lee’s advice with success. On the cross, Christ peacefully said, “It is finished.” How could only 3 years of work be considered completion? There were countless people with ailments, many more demons to cast out, angry pharisees to enlighten, many lost to seek, yet Christ’s work was done? One simple phrase could of been Christ’s answer to this probing question: “I have finished the work which thou (God) gavest me to do.” He understood the secret of daily interraction with the Heavenly Father. I am learning that I know little of those I spend little time with. For Christ, this provided daily direction and weeded out activities lacking eternal significance.

Now with this said, go get more things done !

7 Comments » | posted in Tid Bits